PICTURE BOOKS

Rain and the Reading Horse

by Maria Gianferrari (text) & illus. by Hannah Salyer
HarperCollins/Clarion. Oct. 2025. 40p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780063257252. K-Gr 3
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K-Gr 3–Gianferrari’s new picture book explores the way a bond with a horse helps alleviate a child’s anxiety. The main character, Rain, gradually overcomes her fear about reading aloud through the care and companionship with a gentle horse in an after-school reading program. Salyer’s exceptionally beautiful illustrations enhance the narrative, helping to show Rain’s emotional life in visual form; soft pencil and chalk in vibrant contrasting colors capture Rain’s experience. Spare words, repetition, and measured pacing reveal Rain’s journey from anxiety to calm and confidence.
VERDICT Children will enjoy this sensitive and nuanced story focused on social and emotional themes.
Reviewed by Mari Pongkhamsing , Oct 01, 2025

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